Stories from Sunday, March 12, 2017

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer VAN BUREN, Mo. -- As a slow burning fire skimmed a ridge near Big Spring last week, it gobbled up leaf litter and small plants. The low flames mostly bypassed larger trees as they climbed a bluff above the Current River and wrapped around one of the nation's three largest springs...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer JEFFERSON CITY - Three Rivers and community colleges across the state have formed a partnership to address training challenges to Missouri business and industry. Representatives from all 12 of Missouri's community colleges on Thursday at the state capitol signed an agreement to form the Missouri Community College Workforce Development Network, which aims to address workforce challenges by sharing training resources among the institutions...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer This year, 2017, will see the Army's first female recruits who opted into infantry or armor specialties finish boot camp and report for duty. The decision to open all branches and specialties of the Army to women has been a controversial issue since it was announced in December 2015...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff recently lost its two-year-in-a-row title as the best place in the state to retire, but still hits near the top of financial technology company SmartAsset's list at number four. Steve Halter, president of the Poplar Bluff Greater Area Chamber of Commerce said the fact that Poplar Bluff continues to rank high in the report for now the third year in a row speaks volumes to the quality of life in the area...

From Staff Reports John J. Pershing VA Medical Center will hold a town hall meeting Tuesday at the Elks Lodge, north of Poplar Bluff, Mo. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. for refreshments and information booths. The town hall portion of the event is expected to last approximately an hour, according to the VA...

Letter to the Editor: The signs of spring are everywhere, and it is time to enjoy our beautiful Ozarks. The jonquils are blooming, Bradford pear trees, are showing off their beauty, and the redbuds, pink and white dogwoods from a winter sleep, it is time for us to shed our winter blues and cabin fever and go outside to enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. Spring is always a signal for me to go on a road trip. My favorite towns, always seem to have spring or river in its name...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN To back up Defense Secretary "Mad Dog" Mattis' warning last month, that the U.S. "remains steadfast in its commitment" to its allies, President Donald Trump is sending B-1 and B-52 bombers to Korea. Some 300,000 South Korean and 15,000 U.S. troops have begun their annual Foal Eagle joint war exercises that run through April...

By MICHELE MUNZ St. Louis Post-Dispatch ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Hospitals in Chicago and Boston told the family of Spencer Kolman they didn't have the expertise for the rare transplant surgery, and transplanting his lungs would be too risky. But the teen was living in his bedroom, emptying oxygen tanks like they were cartons of milk...

Kayleigh Marie Hanner and Cory Micheal Barker of Qulin have chosen names for their twins born Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Eleanor Grace Barker was born at 10:27 p.m. and she weighed 4-pound, 1-ounce. Eleanor was 17 inches long. Her brother, Travis Riot Barker was born at 10:32 p.m., and he weighed 4-pounds, 15-ounce. Travis was 19 inches long...

By MEGAN SMITH COLUMBIA, Mo. - Kaleb Doyle, Poplar Bluff, recently was named to the University of Missouri's Mizzou '39. Given annually by the Mizzou Alumni Association Student Board to 39 seniors across all academic disciplines, the award honors scholastic achievement as well as leadership and service to Mizzou and the community...

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- Once the Dexter girls basketball team found a way to curb Lutheran South's interior offense, the game got even. When they turned up the defensive pressure, the game was in hand. For a crucial three-minute stretch in the second quarter, Dexter's full-court pressure took control and led the way to an 81-63 victory Saturday in the MSHSAA Class 4 quarterfinal at Jefferson College...

Dear Editor, As an active member in the community, I cannot help but wonder why Missouri's elected officials aren't embracing the fact that a quality public education is not achieved with a one-size fits all approach. While I am happy with the education my children received, I am cognizant countless parents don't share this sentiment because they are limited by financial restrictions or zip code...

Thomas R. 'Tom' Wilson MALDEN, Mo. -- Thomas R. "Tom" Wilson, 82, of Malden died Thursday, March 9, 2017 at his residence. Visitation will be from 6 - 8 p.m. Sunday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral will be at 1 p.m., Monday at Bradshaw Chapel with Rev. Julian Lerma officiating...

Paul 'Keith' Corder VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Paul "Keith" Corder, 69, of Van Buren, son of the late Paul and Wanda (Young) Corder was born July 27, 1947 in Eminence, Mo. and departed this life Thursday, March 9, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff...

Connie Vaughn Connie Vaughn, 64, of Poplar Bluff passed away at her home Thursday, March 9, 2017. Mrs. Vaughn was born Sept. 12, 1952 in Poplar Bluff. She is survived by her son, Kevin (Lani) Vaughn; two sisters, Judy Pfeifer and Joyce Kelley; three brothers, Dennis Herford, Clay Herford and Melvin Herford, as well as three grandchildren: Kelli Vaughn, Travis Vaughn and Abbi Vaughn...

J.B. Tolliver NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- J.B. Tolliver, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Friday, March 10, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel at Neelyville.

Margaret Cravens DEXTER, Mo. -- Margaret Elizabeth Cravens, 93, of Dexter died Friday, March 10, 2017, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Ron Beaton of Dexter. Burial will be in the Dexter Cemetery...

Phyllis Hayden DEXTER, Mo. --Phyllis Joan Hayden, 70, of Dexter died Thursday, March 9, 2017, at her home. The visitation and funeral were Saturday at Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter with the Rev. Dale Holman of Advance, Mo., officiating. Burial was in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter...

Gene Bess had to hand out the District IV championship trophy Saturday night. "We've made a lot of teams over the years happy. I hate to do it, but we did it again tonight," said Bess, the Three Rivers athletic director and men's basketball coach. With a 79-75 loss on Saturday at the Bess Activity Center, the Raiders missed out on their best chance to return to Hutchinson, Kansas and the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time since 2012...